Greater KL

Buy a hot meal for someone in need at Charlie’s Cafe

Myanmar refugee children from Manna Learning Centre in Sunway Mentari enjoy a meal at Charlie’s Cafe in Taman Bukit Desa, Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Robin Augustin, November 29, 2015.Myanmar refugee children from Manna Learning Centre in Sunway Mentari enjoy a meal at Charlie’s Cafe in Taman Bukit Desa, Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Robin Augustin, November 29, 2015.A cafe in Jalan Bukit Desa, Taman Bukit Desa, Kuala Lumpur is enabling the people to feed the city's poor.

Charlie's Cafe, run by husband and wife, Desonny Tuzan, 42, and Debra Leong, 35, lets those who can afford to buy meals for those who cannot.

Customers may pay for as many meal receipts as they wish to be posted on the "pay-it-forward" wall, to be claimed by anyone in need of a hot meal.

Each meal is priced at RM5 and composed of rice or noodles with chicken or vegetables and choice of coffee, tea or Milo.

"The cost of the meal is more than RM5 and we subsidise the remainder," says Tuzan.

He describes his cafe as a social enterprise which sources ingredients and staff from indigenous communities in Peninsular and East Malaysia.

"We want to connect those with means with those in need and at the same time, provide the second group with a meal in a comfortable environment," he said.

He said the response had been heartening with with over 200 meals paid forward since the start of the initiative in July.

Recently, 34 children from the Manna Learning Centre for Myanmar Refugee Children in Sunway Mentari enjoyed a meal at the cafe.

Most of the paid meals were taken up by charity homes and rehabilitation centres but Desonny said there were also walk-ins.

"Not all who walk in are homeless or poor, there are many in the working class who are struggling to make ends meet.

"These people also need to eat so when they come in here and take a paid forward receipt, we understand and we don't ask questions,” he said.

He and his wife believed there were few, if any at all, who would take advantage of kindness meant for those in genuine need.

They also hope to see other eateries adopt similar methods to help feed the hungry.

Charlie's Cafe is open from 7.45 am to 9.30pm daily except Sunday. – November 29, 2015.

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